Redcliffe Community Association of Moreton Bay in turmoil as executives resign and investigation begins

A COMMUNITY centre in Redcliffe associated with local MP Scott Driscoll is under investigation by the Department of Communities.

The Redcliffe Community Association of Moreton Bay, a not-for-profit organisation, was thrown into turmoil yesterday after staff were told another member of its voluntary board, chairman Bruce Mills, had resigned.

Mr Mills, a close friend and business associate of Mr Driscoll, resigned his post citing health reasons.

Geoff Jamieson, the RCAMB's treasurer, has also quit. The centre has been without a chief executive since July. Mr Driscoll is honorary patron.

Mr Mills did not return calls.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Department of Communities has launched an investigation of the RCAMB.

A spokesman for the department said yesterday it was "reviewing information it requested and received from the organisation" after receiving a complaint.

The Courier-Mail understands staff raised concerns with the Department of Communities over the RCAMB's expenditure on marketing. Financial records show expenditure on advertising and promotion rose from $6500 in 2011 to almost $49,000 last year.

The centre last year received about $1.4 million in State and Federal Government grants.

The paper understands staff at the centre, which provides support to the homeless and victims of domestic violence, have not been paid and were yesterday locked out of the Redcliffe building.

Calls to the centre were not returned.

A spokesman for Moreton Bay Regional Council said it was concerned the centre, which operates from locations in Redcliffe, Caboolture and Petrie, would be unable to function without board representation or a chief executive. Council planned to ask the State Government how the gap in service provision would be filled, the spokesman said.

Mr Mills is secretary of the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association, the employers' organisation where Mr Driscoll was executive director before he became an MP. Mr Mills and Mr Driscoll are also jointly directors of the Outsourcing Council Asia Pacific.

Former treasurer Mr Jamieson said there had been "a lot of rumour and innuendo ... but none of it is true". He said he had resigned because of other commitments.